ARCHIVE NEWSLETTERS
Billy Mitchell Chapter #247
March Quarter 2003
Billy Mitchell Chapter 247 Meetings
are held at the All Ranks Club at the 128th, the first Tuesday of
each month, at 7:00 P.M.
To Gain access to the base contact Henry Syring.
Recap from 2003 November Meeting at the Miller Inn and December Christmas party.
At the November meeting at the Miller Inn, Allan Seidl and Chuck Wallens presented 'Sojourners Build Flag'. Food was provided by the China-Burma-India group.
During the December meeting and Christmas party, thank you notes were read by Henry and Vic from the Franklin Elementary School. Gil Kwiatkowski reported we would pass out gifts at the VA Center, 22 December. Plaques were awarded to long time members - Chuck Marotske and Gary Parker. Checks and plaque were presented to Joanie Luedke of the 128th ARW Family Program, from state and chapter. An additional $65 was donated by members during the party.
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| Chuck Marotske & Henry Syring | Gary Parker & Henry Syring | Joanie Luedke & Henry Syring |
On 14 February 2004, members of the 128th ARW passed out valentines at the Zablocki VA Center. On 24 February members of the Billy Mitchell Chapter and the China-Burma-India group, helped at the Mardi Gras at the Zablocki Medical Center. During January, February, and March meeting there was much discussion on what we do, declining membership, and supporting the 128th ARW.
Interested in helping with the corn roast, and chapter recruiting, at the Armed Forces Weekend Open House?
Contact Henry Syring or Vic Johnson
December Quarter 2003
Billy Mitchell Chapter 247 Meetings are held at the All Ranks Club at the 128th, the first Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 P.M.
On 16 August 2003, Chapter 247 roasted corn at the 128 ARW's, Unit Compliance Inspection Party/Cookout. AFA members working were Henry Syring, Bob Trivalos, Don Adams, Tom Leiman (friend of Don Adams), and Vic Johnson. We also held a membership drive.
The joint meeting with the CBI is once again at the Miller Inn, at 6:00 PM, 6
November 2003. We are
planning a special program with Al Seidl and Chuck Wallens. Presentation
is 'Sojourners Build Flag'. Our
Christmas Party will be at 7:00 PM on the 2nd of December 2003, at the 128th Air
Refueling Wing,
1919 E. Grange Ave. Bring a gift to exchange ($5.00 Max).
Please RSVP for The Miller Inn Meeting by 16 October.
Please RSVP for the Christmas party by 11 November. Include the number of
guests.
August Quarter 2003
Billy Mitchell Chapter 247 Meetings are held at the All Ranks Club at the 128th, the first Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 P.M.
State President, Henry Syring, presented the sword to Cadet Heather Wooten, at the ROTC Awards Ceremony on 20 April 2003.
Memorial Day Service was held 25 May at Billy Mitchell’s gravesite, at Forest Home Cemetery, and a reception followed. Henry, Gil, Chuck, Bob, Ken, Steve, and Vic were at the Billy Mitchell Memorial service.
Regional workshop was held 16 May – 17 May at Elsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota. Vic Johnson attended. Legislative issues National AFA wants us to support are – ‘Armed Forces Fairness Act 2003’, ‘Concurrent receipt’, and ‘National Guard and Reserve enrolment in Tricare’. A ‘USA Today’, account rep spoke on getting that newspaper into the classroom and sponsorship.
Chuck Marotske, Bob Meinecke, and Vic Johnson attended the Lance Sijan Memorial Dedication, and reception on 8 June.
On 12 June, Henry Syring presented the Regions ‘ Chapter of the Year Award to Henderson Chapter. Vic Johnson also attended.
April Quarter 2003
Billy Mitchell Chapter 247 Meetings are held at the All Ranks Club at the 128th, the first Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 P.M.
On 14 February, Valentines Day, Chapter President Vic Johnson passed out valentines to patients, at the Zablocki VA Medical Center. He also passed out cookies donated by the Vietnam Veterans of America.
On 4 March, Gil Kwiatkowski, Bob Meinecki, and Chuck Marotske shared a booth with the China-Burma- India group at the Mardi Gras at Zablocki VA Medical Center. They gave away lemonade, cookies, pens, tablets, and playing cards to the patients. Tables this year cost $30.
The Air Force ROTC Detachment 930 will hold an annual banquet on 25 April. The following morning, 26 April, will be the awards ceremony. Billy Mitchell Chapter will supply the sword again this year, with State President Henry Syring presenting it.
Regional workshop will be held 16 May – 17 May at Rapid City, South Dakota.
Memorial Day Services will be held 25 May at Billy Mitchell’s gravesite, at Forest Home Cemetery. Service time is 9:00 A.M., and you enter at the Cleveland Avenue gate, between South 20th and South 27th Street. A lunch will be served afterward at Saint Rafael’s. Depending on world events, there may be a speaker from the 128th.
January Quarter 2003
3 December 2002 was the annual Christmas party at the ‘Guard House’. Approximately 44 people attended. Henry Syring Supplied the food.
"Outstanding AFA Service Awards" Ceremony
Six "Outstanding AFA Service Awards" were presented at the annual holiday celebration.
Lifetime recognition recipients are Max R. Harner and Edgar "(Zip)" Kynaston, each with 55 years of active AFA leadership. The third Recipient, Anthony J. LaPorte, is both a charter member of Billy Mitchell Chapter, and the national AFA. LaPort has his original membership card signed, in 1946, by our founder, James Doolittle. All three members remain active and represent a total of 166 years of loyal service to AFA.
A special service award was presented to the 128th Wisconsin ANG for their contributions, continuing support to AFA, and their participation at the Billy Mitchell Chapter’s programs for patients at the Zablocki Veterans Hospital in Woods, Wisconsin.
The fifth plaque was awarded to the 440th TAW Air Force Reserve Unit for their on-going annual support of AFA during Armed Forces Weekend.
Lastly, a special award of appreciation was given to business leader, Lori Adamczyk, for her help in providing the chapter with meeting facilities for twelve months following 9-11.
Chapter president, Vic Johnson, and Wisconsin AFA president, Henry Syring, concluded the award presentation by extending heartfelt appreciation to all recipients.
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Pictured from left is Max Harner, Anthony LaPorte, and Edgar Kynaston. |
Pictured from left is Joe Olla, Connie Bacik, Patty Mueller, of the 128th ANG, and Henry Syring. |
Long Time Patron Bob Trivalos now a regular member
The executive board of AFA National voted to make Bob Trivalos a regular member for all the chapter activities over the years. You see him at the Armed Forces Day open house, collecting the tickets. He is Vice president of Communications, and maintains the chapter database. Congratulations Bob.
Grassroots Program
On 27 December 2003, chapter president, Vic Johnson represented Chapter 247 at the "Grassroots" open house, at the EAA Museum, Batten Field, Racine, Wisconsin. Local Air Force admissions officers and recruiting offices sponsored this event, which is open to anyone interested in the Air Force Academy, and AFROTC, college programs. This program allows Racine and Kenosha cadets from the Air Force Academy and AFROTC cadets who are home for Christmas vacation to talk with interested students and their parents about the life of a cadet. The cadets who participated this year are:
● Air Force Academy 2nd Class Cadet Jayson Anderson
● Air Force Academy 4th Class Cadet Amanda Rasmussen
● AFROTC Sophomore Cadet Kris Harvey, from Embry Riddle
● AFROTC Cadet Andrea Matalik, from Illinois Institute of Technology
Valentines Day at Zablocki VA Medical Center
We will pass out valentines, on 14 February 2003, at the Zablicki VA Medical Center. We will post the time at a later date.
Mardi Gras
at Zablocki VA Medical CenterWe will help out at the Mardi Gras, at the Zablocki VA Medical Center on 4 March 2003, wheeling patients around. The "Billy Mitchell" chapter and the CBI, will have booths. We will post the time at a later date.
The following article is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Billy Mitchell had a birthday last week. On Dec. 29, Milwaukee's gift to military aviation would have been 123 years old.
The general is in no danger of being forgotten after all those years. Thousands of people trundled through the airport we named for him over the holidays, and some, no doubt, were bearing gift copies of Sen. John McCain's new book, "Worth the Fighting For."
The Arizona maverick identifies Billy Mitchell as one of his heroes, along with such legends as President Teddy Roosevelt and Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata.
What his role models shared, writes McCain, was an unbending commitment to a cause larger than themselves. In Billy Mitchell's case, that commitment cost him his career.
Mitchell was, in some respects, an unlikely crusader. His grandfather, Alexander, was the wealthiest Wisconsinite of his generation. Born in Scotland, Alexander Mitchell ran the Marine Bank, founded Northwestern National Insurance and established a rail line that would rise to fame as the Milwaukee Road.
The tycoon had only one child, John L. Mitchell. Although he nominally worked in the family bank, John spent most of his years as a gentleman farmer, with a particular interest in trotting horses.
His estate, Meadowmere, was a 400-acre wonderland of fields, forests and pastures centered on a baronial barn and a 28-room mansion filled with the finest artwork and furnishings money could buy.
Billy, the oldest of John Mitchell's nine children, recalled Meadowmere as the place "where probably the happiest hours of my life were spent and where the home training I was given, the best that could be, will always have its influence in everything I do."
Where was this Shangri-La? In what is now West Allis. The Meadowmere mansion still stands at 5301 W. Lincoln Ave., much of its original ornamentation intact. The old landmark is now a residence for older people called, appropriately, Mitchell Manor.
Billy might have followed in his father's footsteps as a collector of art and a breeder of horses, but he seemed destined for the military life. When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Mitchell rushed home from school in Washington to enlist in the Army. He was 18 years old.
Spain had surrendered by the time Billy Mitchell's company reached Cuba, but the young man had found his calling. In the next 10 years, he served in the occupied Philippines, laid telegraph wire in Alaska, taught cavalry tactics at Leavenworth and helped to restore communication after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Mitchell climbed steadily through the ranks. In 1912, at the age of 32, he was assigned to the Army's general staff in Washington - the youngest officer ever granted that honor.
It was in Washington that the rising star developed his interest in aviation. The Army had purchased its first aircraft - a Wright brothers model - in 1908. Planes were thought to have some potential for reconnaissance, but Mitchell foresaw with utter clarity their role as bombers, fighters and lethal instruments of modern warfare.
He soon had the chance to make his vision a reality. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Mitchell was given command of a fleet of 1,500 mismatched aircraft flown by British, French and American pilots, including the famous Eddie Rickenbacker. They were so effective that Mitchell earned a promotion to brigadier general.
With victory secured in 1918, Gen. Mitchell came home and continued to beat the drum for military aviation. In books, speeches and interviews, he campaigned for an air force separate from the Army and Navy. "Let us be a whole dog," he pleaded, "instead of being the tail of several dogs."
Mitchell was an able publicist for his own cause. Practically taunting his peers in the Navy, the general claimed that an airplane could sink a battleship.
Calling his bluff, Congress placed a surrendered German dreadnought at his disposal in 1921. After months of training, Mitchell's planes dropped their loads on the craft as it lay off the Virginia coast. The ship went down in less than 22 minutes. "A bomb was fired today," said an Army ordnance officer, "that will be heard around the world."
Mitchell obviously knew what he was talking about. What marred his campaign was his uncompromising insistence on the superiority of military aircraft. "Armies will become auxiliary to air power," he flatly predicted. "The Navy can no longer guard our coasts," he declared.
Those were not statements designed to curry favor with his superiors, and they reacted predictably. In 1925, Billy Mitchell was demoted to colonel and exiled to an air base in Texas.
He continued to speak out. When two military aviation mishaps cost several lives in 1925, Mitchell issued a 6,000-word statement that could be summarized in a single sentence: "These accidents are the result of the incompetency, the criminal negligence and the almost treasonable administration of our national defense by the Navy and War Departments."
That was enough for the brass hats in Washington. Billy Mitchell was called back to face a court-martial for "conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the military service."
The tribunal quickly found him guilty. Rather than serve a five-year suspension at half pay, Mitchell quit the Army. He retired to rural Virginia, where, like his father before him, he lived out his days as a gentleman farmer. The crusader died of pneumonia in 1936, shortly after his 56th birthday.
Only a few years later, Billy Mitchell was completely vindicated. In 1941, Japanese air power made a shambles of Pearl Harbor. In 1945, American air power reduced Hiroshima to rubble. Military aircraft played a pivotal role on every front in World War II.
Once considered a pain in the brass, Mitchell was universally hailed as a prophet. In 1946, Congress awarded him a posthumous Medal of Honor. He won more popular recognition in 1955, when Gary Cooper himself starred in "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell."
The Air Force has long since achieved parity with the other branches of the armed forces. Billy Mitchell, the well-bred bulldog who led the charge, now lies in Milwaukee's Forest Home Cemetery, a native son who helped give the American military its wings.
John Gurda, a Milwaukee historian, writes for the Crossroads section on the first Sunday of each month.
A version of this story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Jan. 5, 2003.
Congratulations to the new chapter officers. Victor Johnson is the new president of the Billy Mitchell Chapter, Steve Wesolowski is the new Billy Mitchell Chapter Vice-President, Bob Meinecke is the Billy Mitchell Chapter Treasurer, and Connie Bacik is the Billy Mitchell Chapter Secretary.
The new State officers are: Henry Syring
State President
Donald Adams State
Vice-President
Scott Dumbauld State Treasurer
Gary
Parker
State Secretary
We will be having a joint meeting with the China, Burma, India (CBI) Veterans group on the 7th of November, at the Miller Inn located at 40th and State St. at 6:00 P.M.
This year our Christmas Party is on the 3rd of December, at 7:00 P.M. in the Guard house at the 128th Air Refueling Wing, 1919 E. Grange Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Air National Guard Base is located on the East side of General Mitchell International Airport.
Scott Dumbauld had the privilege of presenting the Air Force Leadership Award Sword to Cadet Matthew Schmunk at the AFROTC Ceremony held at Marquette University on the 27th of April, 2002.
Chuck Marotske will be representing the State of Wisconsin, and the three chapters at the National Convention on the 14th - 18th of September, 2002.
Robert Trivalos has been a long time member and a very hard worker as a patron member. The Billy Mitchell Chapter has sent a request up to national for approval to reclassify Bob as a Regular Member of AFA.
We still need help recruiting new members, and community partners for our chapter. Anyone with any suggestions or willing to help please contact any of the chapter officers with the information, thank you.
This is my last newsletter as Billy Mitchell Chapter President. It was my pleasure and an honor to serve as your chapter president. I wish Vic and his Officers the best of lick, and I'm sure that they can count on the support and cooperation of the chapter during his term in office. Thank you to all the chapter members who helped make this a great chapter.
September Quarter 2002
A Reflection
This issue of, Chapter News General Billy Mitchell Chapter 247, begins on a somber note as we reflect on the horror of the terrorists ' attack of September II, 2001. Those who do not share our values as a free and democratic society have challenged liberties we all take for granted. Many of our AFA Chapter 247 members are with the Air Force Reserve - the 440th Airlift Wing, while many others are with the Air National Guard - the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee and the 115th Air Guard Fighter Wing from Madison. Some have volunteered to active duty and are on their way to serve where needed. We support them through our prayers and our commitment to do all we can to remain strong and steadfast as a nation and as an organization. Together, we salute all who stand ready to defend and protect American. God bless them all!
National AFA News
News On the national AFA scene, the 2001 AFA National convention, slated to begin September 15th, was cancelled. The National Executive Committee of the Board of Directors took action in polling the 38 member board to ratify revisions to The Statement of Policy in light of the recent terrorists' attacks on America. The revisions include changing the Statement of Policy title from, "Rapid Aerospace Dominance " to, "Strategic Dominance from Air and Space " - the added sentence on the first page concerning the emerging regimes of cyber war, space control, and homeland defense. The Executive Committee also made editorial changes to the Top Issues with the addition of a new top issue on Terrorism. As of September 18th, 31 of the 38 voting members of the National Board of Directors voted to ratify the actions of the Executive Committee. Copies of, The Statement of Policy and, Top Issues, are available on the AFA website, www.afa.org.
AFA national headquarters in Arlington, V A us the meeting site for all regional and state AF A presidents scheduled for October 19th -20th. With the cancellation of the National Convention, this meeting is an important one for discussion and resolution of emerging AF A issues. Regional AFA News The 114th Air Guard Fighter Wing, located at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, SD, was the location for the August l0th -11th meeting of the newly revised AF A North Central Region. Representing five states, were state and chapter officers. Chuck Marotske and Vic Johnson represented Wisconsin. Discussion focused on membership recruitment, Community Partners Program, Civil Air Patrol collaborative efforts and AF-ROTC support.
Wisconsin AFA News
Wisconsin's Fighting Falcons - Chapter 353 members are experiencing and enthusiastic revitalization and growth thanks to the effort and leadership of Joe Lustgraff, President. Great Job, Joe! Badger - Chapter 307 has a new name, Capt. William Henderson. Hats off to Russ Klug, President! He is up for a national AFA award for recruiting the most new chapter members for fiscal year 2000-2001.
Chapter 247 News
Billy Mitchell - Chapter 247, under the dynamic leadership of Hank Syring, President, continues to add new Community Partners and members (Hank is also a great chef!). Chartered on June.3, 1~47, our chapter is one of the oldest active AFA chapters in America. In order to keep this proud heritage, and continue in supporting the enthusiastic growth in membership, we need your renewed dedication to attend monthly meetings and to help in developing and presenting monthly programs. Talent abounds in and among our members! Please consider volunteering to present a program related to the mission of AF A, which is, "To promote understanding of aerospace power and national defense to schools, educators, and the American public. " Today, more than ever, your Chapter 247 needs YOU!
Change in meeting place for Chapter 247
Due to heightened security at the 128th Air Refueling ANG, Chapter 247 now meets at Howell Gardens. Until further notice, we now meet on the first Tuesday of each month, starting at 7:00 pm, at Howell Gardens, 6247 S. Howell Ave. - just north of College Ave.
April Quarter 2001
April 2001
Your officer's terms are complete on September 30, 2001. Watch future newsletters for the schedule of elections. As you may know, Wisconsin is no longer in the Great Lakes Region but has been placed, by the National Association, in the North Central Region with Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana. Our new regional president is Gary Olson from Minnesota.
During the October, November and December 2001 quarter we participated in a State President's meeting. All states convened at AFA Headquarters in Arlington, VA. The attendance was quite commendable with many interesting discussions. Another quarterly activity was our chapter's annual joint meeting with the folks of the Milwaukee WWII CBI (China, Burma, India) Chapter at Miller Brewery. Chapter members, along with Jim Lovell and friends, also attended an award dinner for Marine WWII ace Joe Foss. The event was held at St. John's Military Academy with over 200 participants. Finally, we held our annual Christmas Party at the 128th ANG clubhouse wherein we collected Christmas cards, and presents for the veterans at Zablocki Veteran's Hospital. Chapter members presented those cards and gifts to the veterans, who more than appreciative towards our efforts to bring them holiday cheer.
The January, February and March 2001 quarter found us involved in our regular meetings as well as attending a Mardi Gras Party at Zablocki Veteran's Hospital where we assisted in passing out food and gifts to approximately 250 vets. Our assistance involved moving the vets to the party room from their respective rooms in their wheel- chairs. We also assisted in passing out Valentine cards from our chapter as well as cards made by local school children. Most enjoyable was "shooting the breeze" with the vets - they are a great bunch, in spite of their many physical and mental' problems.
The quarter of April, May and June 2001 found us involved in a recruiting drive at the 128th for new members in addition to recruitment in the community partner area. We will again have the corn booth during Armed Forces weekend. May 19th & 20th. The show, military displays & other festivities will be at the 440th Airlift Wing. On Sunday, May 27th the Chapter, in conjunction with the Billy Mitchell American Legion Post will participate in the Memorial Day Graveside Services at Billy Mitchell's grave, located at Forest Home Cemetery. This has been an annual event for many, many years.
Your State President has been invited to attend the 59th reunion of the "Doolittle Raiders". That is the group who bombed Japan on April 18, 1942. There are stil124living members of which 16 will attend the event. Plans also call for a display of B-25's, the plane flown in the bombing raid. The event will be held in Fresno, CA on May 10th-13.
We do have a number of concerns within the Chapter. We would certainly like to see some of the "old members" as well as any member return to the fold & attend the monthly meetings. They continue to be held the first Tuesday of every month at the 128th Clubhouse at 7:00 PM. We can use your help in our volunteer - work as well as your ideas in planning our activities. The AFA is a great organization with many benefits for its members. One of the main benefits is socializing with folks who have mutual interests.
The upcoming quarter of July, August & September will find us with our continuing involvement with the Veteran's Hospital. A North Central Regional meeting will be held in August in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This involves all the states & chapters in the region with the purpose of discussing their various activities as well as other areas of mutual concern. Finally, during Sept. i.e., 15-19, the AFA will convene its Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. All are welcome to attend.
The Billy Mitchell Chapter of the AFA is one of the oldest chapters in the AFA. It was chartered on June 3, 1947. One of the original members & persons responsible for our Chapter is Tom Bailey, whom we all know & greatly admire.
Any forthcoming information will be disseminated in future newsletters. If you have any questions, etc., give Henry Syring or Chuck Marotzke a call. They will be glad to hear from you
Capt. William J. Henderson Chapter #307
Chapter Officers
President:
(deceased)
Vice-President:
Tim Kerrigan
(414) 659--6648 (Cell)
Secretary:
Ken Shoenike
(414) 762-1892
Treasurer:
Lyle Larcheid
(414) 258-5880
Chaplain & Editor:
Larry Myers
(414) 915-3040 (Cell)
In Memorian
On Monday, 31 March 2003, Chapter President Russell W. Klug died suddenly at
his home. Cause of death was a blood clot thrown from his leg. Russ, in many
ways,
was "Mr. AFA " in the greater Milwaukee area. His efforts results in
our chapter's
receiving the Chapter Storz Award and a Jack Gross Award in two
consecutive
years (2001 & 2002). Here was a man who was consumed with all things
dealing with flying. He will be sorely missed. The following biographical summary
appeared in the service folder at his funeral.
Russell William "Ross" Klug
was born on October 3,1925, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was baptized in the
Christian faith at St. Martini Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin,
in 1925 and confirmed at the same congregation in 1939. He has been a member of
Elm Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1992. Russ attended Grant
Street
School and Walker Junior High before graduating from Pulaski High School
in
1943. He was active in diving, swimming, and football in high school and
was
quarterback during 1945-1946 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
where he attended classes for three years. During the past ten years he has
continued his interest in sports by participating in Senior Olympics and winning
numerous medals. Russ met Jayne Nehring at a Pulaski High swim meet in
1946
and married her on May 22, 1948, at St. Luke Episcopal Church, Bayview,
Wisconsin. The marriage produced three children: Bonnie (married to the late
Ron)
Romanowich, Keith Klug, and Laurie Klug. Also surviving are his three
grandchildren-
Brian Romanowich, Jaime (John) Dobner, Julia Klug, Joe Klug,
and Anna Klug. His
first great grandchild is expected in June of this year. He
was also a faithful
brother-in-law to Wally, Dick, and Barb, who also survive
him. Russ served in the U.S.. Army Air Corps during 1943-1945 in World
War 11 and received his pilot wings on April 15, 1945.
He served as a pilot
during the Korean War and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska,
where son
Keith was born. Russ was extremely involved in community service
organizations
and received many awards for such service. Heis a past president of Whitnall
Park Rotary Club and accumulated ; 14 years of perfect attendance.
Additionally, he
was president of the Wm. J. Henderson Chapter, Air Force
Association, which (due to his efforts) for the past two years has received the
AFA 's highest awards
for increasing and sustaining membership. He was also
a member of the 8th Air
Force Association, the 128th Air National Guard
Retirees Group, the Pulaski High
Class of' 43 Reunion Committee, and the
Class of '45 B Army-Air Force Group.
Additionally, at his death he was
still serving on the 440th Airlift Wing Community Council,
having just
completed service on its executive committee.
Russell William Klug died on March 31, 2003, at the age of 77 years,
five
months, and 29 days.
Chaplains Corner
"The Lord be with you!"
Such was the greeting I received from Russ Klug each time he exited the
sanctuary
after attending worship at Elm Grove Evangelical Lutheran
Church. "The Lord be
with you!" Actually, this was much more
than a mere greeting for the man who was
also my friend in addition to being a member of my parish. "The Lord be with you!"
was how he lived
his life...for others. In fact, Russ lived his life so much for others
that he tended to neglect his own personal administrative obligations. Just ask
his
bride, "Miss Jayne," of nearly 55 years. She and her children have had
a real
challenge the past two months as they've sorted through the boxes arid boxes of
things that Russ Klug had accumulated, nearly all of ithaving to do with
organizations with which he was involved. Please don't misunderstand. Russ Klug
did not neglect his family. Here also was a man who learned how to play the piano
just so he could play and , sing "Happy Birthday" to his wife. He took just enough
lessons
to be able to do that, and then he quit! What motivated him? I boldly
suggest that it was his faith. When Russ said, "The Lord be with
you!", he meant it.
He meant it because he knew and believed that the Lord was with him.
May it be the same for you in your life journey: "The Lord be with
you!"
LARRY W. MYERS
Chaplain, Colonel, USAFR (Ret.)
The Future
What will become of the "Capt. William J. Henderson Chapter" of the Air Force Association without the presence of Russ Klug? The answer is simple: It will go on! It will not die! But who will take over at the helm? Who will be our leader? Again, the answer is simple: The members who remain, who survive Russ Klug, must step forward, chip in, and carry on. It can be done in no other way. Vice-President Tim Kerrigan will fulfill the functions of the chapter president until a new president is elected. Likewise, the other officers will continue at the pleasure of the chapter membership. Will we. win any more national awards? Yes, IF a good number of the chapter membership take over where Russ Klug left off. Time and effort are all that are required. The chapter will continue meeting on a quarterly basis. It will also reorganize itself during these summer months. Can we count on you? We hope so!
AFA Events
31 July Resolutions Deadline for the AFA National Convention. 15 August Deadline for Apr-Jun Chapter Reports 11 August Registration Deadline for AFA National Convention (at discount prices) 15-17 September AFA National Convention Washington, DC 15 November Deadline for Jul-Sep Chapter Reports 21 November AF A National Symposium Los Angeles, CA.
2003 Annual Plan
Our Chapter Activity Plan includes many and similar activities that we have enjoyed and found worthy and successful in past years. Our planning committee has found a loose time frame to be easier to work with, and our past record of events has proved very doable. These activities are many in number and include: Conduct quarterly chapter4meetings on March 13th, June 12th, September 11th, and December 11th. Invite a member or staff member of congress to participate in one of our quarterly meetings. Conduct a program at the 440th Airlift Wing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at which time we will advocate support for the United States Air Force and the Air Force Family. Conduct programs to recognize World War II, 8th Air Force Veterans and the 128th Air Refueling Wing retirees group. Become more active with the Marquette University AFROTC and Greenfield AFJROTC cadets by mutual participation in Air Force related programs. Continue ongoing personal contact with Col. Michael Smith, Commanding Officer of the 440th Airlift Wing, to strengthen our relationship. Speak to a local community service club to promote the mission of the Air Force Association. Continue to publish four chapter newsletters (as we have in the past three years). Have a minimum goal of at least 10% new members (just as we have achieved in the past two years). Increase the attendance at our quarterly meetings to a minimum of least twenty members. Have a fundraiser on Armed Forces weekend, May 17th & 18th, at the 128th Air Refueling Wing. Encourage more participation of our chapter members to donate blood at the 440th Airlift Wing and the 128th Air Refueling Wing. Each wing has two blood drives annually. Our chapter will participate in the first of these four on January 11th at the 128th Air Refueling Wing. Emphasize the importance of the Community Partner Program and set a goal of increasing community partners by at least 6%, which equates to thirty new Community Partners. As happens every year, new activities come up and more and better results occur. It is the premise of our executive committee that a play-it-by-ear approach (month to month) should prevail. We have found that it works out quite well that way (in other words, it results in a more flexible plan).
Fighting Falcons Chapter #353
